S.B. No. 327 Summary

• Establishes the Ohio Cyber Reserve as a civilian volunteer component of the Ohio organized militia under the adjutant general's department, capable of being expanded to protect state, county, and local governmental agencies, critical infrastructure including election systems, and businesses from cyber attacks.

• Reserves members serve unpaid during drills and training; when called to state active duty by the governor, they receive pay rates set by the adjutant general and are entitled to protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

• Requires reserve members to be United States citizens or legal permanent residents not expelled or dishonorably discharged from the armed forces, subject to background checks before admission; the governor may accept resignations and require reimbursement for training and equipment if members do not complete their membership agreement without disability.

• Incorporates the Ohio Cyber Reserve into the definition of Ohio organized militia alongside the Ohio National Guard, Ohio Naval Militia, and Ohio Military Reserve; clarifies that the reserve cannot be called into federal military service.

• Appropriates $450,000 from the General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2019, with $50,000 designated for activation costs of the Ohio Cyber Reserve.